Daniel Jung

Daniel Jung has been climbing for half of his life. He has travelled thousands of kilometers by plane, car or hitchhiking, and he has lived in his van, a tent or caves for months. He likes all facets of climbing, from sport climbing to deep water soloing to bouldering to trad to adventures on big walls. In 2015, Daniel and his brother Markus opened Schlüsselstell- Jung's Boulderhalle, a boulder gym with a cozy Café in Siegen. For now, that is where Daniel can be found, working, training, setting boulders or making café.

Discipline: Rock Climbing

Hometown: I'm from Siegen, a city surrounded by some hills and woods in the middle west of Germany.

Currently Living: Siegen

Height: My ID says 174 cm, but I guess I'm 3 cm taller

Career Highlights: There were so many trips and routes that were amazing! The best experiences are the most intense ones, like big wall climbing with my brother Markus on wet rock in Norway or enjoying the strong wind in Patagonia climbing with Nico.

Here is just a short list of some nice amazing routes:
Le Cadre (8c, Ceüse, France, 2004) because I just send it without expecting that I could be able to send it.
Supercowboy FA (8c+ Siurana, Spain 2009) because it's such a good line with crazy moves.
Jungle Speed FA (9a, Siurana 2010) because it has super nice boulder moves.
Karamba FA (9a, Phantasialand Germany 2011). I tried it so much on wet holds, one day it was dry and did it.
The Elder Statesman (9a Frankenjura, Germany 2012). My first hard route in the Frankenjura, big fight, lots of cuts and blood.
La Rambla (9a+ Siurana Spain 2014) has really nice moves, so much fun (even if it is quit dirty, because of all the chalk and tick marks.)

When did you first start climbing?

I think I started climbing regularly in 1998 on a very small woody.

What do you most enjoy about your sport?

Maybe that climbing is not just a sport. Climbing is a way to enjoy life.

How do you define success?

When you are happy about what you did or what you are doing.

What are you most proud of, either in life, your sport or both?

Climbing makes me happy, it’s fun—being proud is a feeling I don’t have in climbing I think. In life: that Markus and I planned and put up the Bouldergym and that people like it :).

What inspires you?

Beautiful rocks, beautiful landscapes and motivated people.

What are your hobbies outside of your sport?

Mountain biking, listening to music, making music a bit and hanging out in nature (oh, that’s a part of climbing as well).

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Being lazy on rest days sometimes.

What are your hidden talents?

They aren't hidden without any reason ;)

Tell us about your most favorite place in the world:

Everywhere I find untouched nature and a nice view.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I think I wasn't really looking forward to having a job. I was more motivated to be active and flexible to do a lot of things. Jobs are for earning money, but what is earning money for if you don't have the time to spend it because you have to work?

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be, and why?

I should focus a bit more on my studies to finish it one day.

What do you think every climber should learn?

-That a nice rock looks much more beautiful without tick marks and chalk, and that it is important to leave no trash in nature.

Tell us about a time in your life when you have been scared:

When I was close to finish school I was scared of bad exam results, because I wanted to study and become a teacher later.

Describe your perfect day:

5 to 8°C, sun and a fresh wind. Exposed climbing somewhere with a nice view.